railroad tracks

Train Accidents: Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries

By Greg Kohn
Partner

If you were injured in a train accident and are suing NJ Transit or another government agency, you might have to take legal action sooner rather than later. Government entities may impact the amount of time you have to file a claim, and you want to ensure that you cover all your ground when filing a lawsuit. If there are no government entities who might be involved, you will have the standard personal injury filing deadline.

A New Jersey train accident attorney can help you pursue the compensation you deserve if you were injured in a train accident. Here are a few things you might like to know about train accidents and seeking compensation for your injuries.

Things You Can Do to Protect Your Right to Money Damages After a Train Accident in New Jersey

The steps you take after getting hurt in a train accident could make a difference in the amount of compensation you end up recovering from the at-fault party. At the scene of an accident, you should: 

  • Get medical attention immediately. You will want to get your obvious injuries diagnosed and treated. Also, some wounds have delayed symptoms. A brain bleed, for example, might not display symptoms until you are in a medical crisis. It would be better to have a comprehensive trauma exam than wait for something bad to happen.
  • Document the scene of the accident. Cell phones can take high-quality photographs and videos. If you are unable to take the photos or videos safely, try to have someone take them for you. Capture the wreckage and the cause of the crash from multiple angles. Also, get pictures of your injuries and the other people at the scene.
  • Get the names and contact information of other passengers and bystanders. You might need to interview them later, so their contact information will be essential.
  • Talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Deadlines can pass quickly in these cases. Evidence and witnesses can become hard to find. You will want to give yourself the best chance of having a successful injury claim. 

We understand that money cannot restore your previous health or function, but monetary compensation could help you get through the financial hardships you might face after a train accident.

Types of Recoverable Damages After Getting Hurt in a New Jersey Train Accident

Every train accident injury claim is different. Three people injured in the same train crash might each have a different settlement value. Some of the common categories of monetary damages that people pursue after a train accident include the following:

  • Lost wages. These damages are to recover paychecks you missed when you could not work because of your wounds.
  • Lost future wages. If your injuries leave you unable to earn as much income as before, even after completing all of your prescribed treatment, you have a financial loss.
  • Medical expenses. The cost of your medical treatment is usually recoverable.
  • Pain and suffering. These damages are for the physical discomfort, inconvenience, and emotional distress of getting injured in a train accident.
  • Disfigurement. Train accidents can cause severe injuries that can develop extensive scars.

Also, if your close relative died from injuries after a train accident, we might be able to seek additional compensation for the family.

A New Jersey personal injury attorney could help you seek compensation after a train accident. For help with your case, reach out to our office today.

About the Author
Greg Kohn is a partner at Nagel Rice and specializes in complex civil litigation cases, including professional malpractice, personal injury, class actions, wrongful death, products liability, and commercial litigation.  He has extensive experience representing clients in both state and federal court. Greg has tried many jury trials to verdict and has recovered over $50 million in settlements and verdicts in all types of personal injury matters including automobile accidents, wrongful death cases, slip and falls, and other catastrophic injury cases. Greg also handles medical malpractice cases, involving misdiagnoses, wrongful birth, and delayed cancer diagnosis. If you have questions regarding this article, you can contact Greg here.